The Lord Bless You and Keep You...

 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Num. 6:24-26

 

This blessing was entrusted by God, through Moses, to Aaron and his sons, i.e. to the priests of Israel. It is a triple blessing filled with light, radiating from the repetition of the name of God, the Lord, and from the image of His face. In fact, in order to be blessed, we have to stand in God’s presence, take His name upon us and remain in the cone of light that issues from His face, in a space lit by his gaze, diffusing grace and peace.

Pope Benedict XVI

Homily, 01/01/2012